Gusty winds impact travel and weekend events

Santa Ana winds have been prevalent throughout the Coachella Valley Saturday impacting outdoor activities and travel.

"We're not sure if we're gonna go to Palm Springs for sure now that it's so windy," said Paulina Crespo of Desert Hot Springs. "Maybe head towards Palm Desert because of the wind."

She was planning to celebrate her birthday with family this weekend, but windy conditions throughout the Western end of the valley resulted in dust covered roads making it difficult to travel. 

"Well definitely not Gene Autry because it's super windy, so possibly around, so I'm thinking Date Palm maybe even Bob Hope. It's really hard to get into Palm Springs," added Crespo.

Saturday morning’s wind even causing some challenges at this weekend’s Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival.

City officials sharing this statement online saying, "Unfortunately mother nature is not cooperating with today’s balloon festival activities, the pilots and FAA have made the decision to bring the balloons down early for their safety.”

"I think the air quality is way worse than before. So I try to stay home as much as possible if it's this windy," said Crespo.